Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Nearly ten years have passed since matchbox twenty released their last full length album, More Than You Think You Are. During that timeframe, the music industry has battled to survive while undergoing a complete makeover in the process. The members of matchbox twenty have kept themselves busy over the past 10 years with various side projects. Lead singer Rob Thomas released two solo albums "Something to Be" and "Cradlesong," which performed very well on the charts while also spawning several number one songs, "Lonely No More," "Ever The Same," and "Someday." Lead guitarist Kyle Cook stepped up to the microphone to handle lead singing duties in his band The New Left that resulted in an underrated EP titled "Let Go" (if you're unfamiliar, check out the songs "Cecelia" & "Wind-Up Girl") before recording additional songs as a solo artist (check out "It Is What It Is"). Former drummer and current rhythm guitarist Paul Doucette crafted a strong debut album under the moniker "The Break & Repair Method." Bassist Brian Yale decided to lay low in Orlando, getting his hair trimmed and working on his golf game in the process.

In between the ten year break between full length albums, matchbox twenty re-convened in 2007 to release a greatest hits package that included 6 new songs. After working with Grammy award-winning producer Matt Serletic on their previous three albums, the group chose to work with Steve Lillywhite and the result was an album that sounded very different from matchbox's previous releases (With the exception of the hooky "These Hard Times"). The album went on to spawn the number one single "How Far We've Come" and matchbox felt reinvigorated, proving they could still be current in a music scene that had changed quite a bit.Read more ›

Okay, here's the thing: I've read the critics' reviews, I've read the blog reviews, and even the fans' reviews, and now I'm gonna give you the lowdown from a guy who was a fan from "Push" and actively sought-out Tabitha's Secret as a result, then went on to purchase every album, DVD, solo project and the like the members of my all-time favorite group put out. Here's the skinny about "North."

Loved it. It could really just end there, but I'll elaborate, unlike a few of the not-so-good reviews I've read who won't say WHY they don't like it, other than to say it's not old-school MB20. How could it POSSIBLY be old-school, when they've grown and developed new sounds, tastes, experiences over the last decade and a half? To presume you were gonna hear the dripping cynicism of songs like "Kody" and the heartbreaking melody of "3am" is naive, in the extreme. New decade, new sound.

What makes this album special is that it's an evolution of the band. It's eclectic in the extreme, and that just makes it a really fun groove. Give me "Overjoyed" and then hit me with "Put Your Hands Up." A few songs later wind me down with "I Will," then toss me back in the air with "Radio" before setting my teeth on egde with the nasty, sensual sound of "Like Sugar," a song to have slow sex to if there ever was one.

Put it all together, and it just WORKS. No other band could've put an album like this together and still maintain the quality that drove me to them in the first place. Not DREW me to them, DROVE. Because MB20 has always insisted I feel and relate in some way to every sound they've made. And I do.

Like many posters I have been a Matchbox Twenty fan and Rob Thomas solo fan for many years. I have to say that this is their best complete album to date and Rob has never sounded better. I'm seeing a bunch of really excellent reviews for the album from fans on the internet. My reaction on first listen was that outside the two upbeat pop songs, "She's So Mean" and "Put Your Hands Up", the album was very mellow. I call it mellow...some former fans may call it boring. It's all in the eyes of the beholder. On my second listen, I "got it" and I got the vibe they were going for and I really loved it. There are some really awesome songs on here. "Sleeping At The Wheel" may simply be the best song that Rob has ever written and recorded. I can't tell you how special I think that song is. I do hope the band will go out on a limb and release it as a single one day. It will give non-fans a new appreciation for what this band is all about.

Other stand out tracks for me are "Parade" and the Paul Doucette penned "English Town".

Here's one old fan that is so happy with the direction the band has taken. If you are a music lover that can listen to Katy Perry and appreciate the fact that she has some good pop songs and then flip gears and listen to Fleetwood Mac to U2, then I suggest this album might be for you. If you aren't into pop/rock music, then you probably should just skip this one. I will add that when I say pop I get a very Elvis Costello vibe from songs like "Radio" and "Our Song" with a modern twist.

Lastly, I can't wait for the band to start touring. That's where they really shine.

BTW, the critics have never liked Matchbox Twenty. I wouldn't expect them to change their opionion now. Matchbox beats to their own drum and that's how it should be.Read more ›